Fusee



No. 617,576. Patented 1an. IQ, i899.

W. D. JACKSON.

FUSEE.`

(Application filed May b, 189B.)

(Nu Model.)

llwrTnn STATns PaTnNT @Tirion IVILTON D. JACKSON, OIf PIIILADELPIIIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FUSEE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,576, dated January 10, 1899.

Application tiled May 5,1898. Serial No. 679,833. (No model.)

To all whom it 71mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, WILToN D. J AcksoN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain Improvements in Fusees, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to so construct a fusee used for signaling or for illuminating purposes that it can be carried with perfect safety and yet can be readilyignited when the two parts are brought together.

My invention is especially applicable for use on railroads or ships for signaling purposes; but it may be used for illuminating purposes in pyrotechnic displays.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View of my improved fusee, partly in seetion, showing the parts arranged for shipment and as they are carried. Fig. 2 is a View showing the parts arranged ready for ignition. Figs. 3 and et are perspective views showing dierent arrangements of heads, and Fig. 5 is a modified form of a cap.

A is the body of the fusee, preferably made of a paper tube closed at the bottom bya wooden base B, havin g either a spike l) (shown in Fig. l) or a suitable handle. In the opposite end of the body is a plug C of slowburning material. This plug is secured to the casing by glue, so that it cannot be readily detached when the f-usee is thrown from a train. The body A, between the plug C and the base B,is charged with a slow-burning illuminating material C', preferably .slower than that of the plug and of any color desired. This is in loose powdered form and is kept in place by the plug. O ver the plug is placed a thin fabric shield c, so as to keep the moisture from the illuminating material.

The-above forms one section of the fusee. The other section consists of a cap formed, preferably., of a paper tube D, having a head D fixed in one end. This head has preferably an undercut cavity, in which is placed a quick-burning compound d while in a plastic condition7 so that when it becomes dry it will not fall out of the head. Placed in this material are igniters e, in the present instance consisting of the ends of ordinary parlormatches. Sufficient of the wood is left on the end of the match so that when it is placed in the plastic composition d it will be held firmly therein when set. Any number of these igniters can be arranged in the head. I have shown in Fig. 3 three grouped t0- gether, and in Fig. 4 a single igniter.

The tube D, forming the cap, is of sufficient length that when inserted over the base B the igniters will be clear of the spike b or the end of the handle, and thus they can be carried when in this position with safety and can be shipped without the liability of ignition.

When the fusee is to be used, the cap is drawn off from the base and placed upon the opposite end of the body A, and by simply striking the fusee with the cap down on some hard obj ect the igniters will spark, immediately igniting the quick-burning material in the head, which will in turn ignite the slowburning plug C, which will burn a sufficient length of time to allow the brakeman, if the fusee is used on a train, to throw it from the car before the slower-burning granular material is reached, so that there is no liability of displacement of this slower-burning material.

In some instances instead of striking the fusee upon some hard object the cap can be turned upon the body, which will ignite the fusee by friction.

In some instances I may dispense with the quick-burning material in the head D and simply use one or more igniters.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 illustrates the head of the cap D3 situated midway between the two ends and fastened in position by any suitable means. This cap is placed over the plug end of the fusee, as shown, so that the base of the head D2 will rest against the end of the body of thefusee, thus securely shielding the fusee from moisture and from the igniters. In the opposite end of the cap D3 is a plug E, having a recess f at one end, so that when the plug is forced down upon the cap, as shown in Fig. 5, it will not strike the igniter e. The cap in this instance has side openings d', which are, preferably, filled with the quick burning material. These side openings form the undercut and prevent the material from dropping out after it is set. They furthermore allow the quick-burning IOO material to burn an opening into the tube, so that the material will receive sufficient air for proper combustion. A small hole can be cut entirely through the head, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, for this same purpose.

To ignite the fusee with the cap shown in Fig. 5, all that is necessary is to remove the plug E, Withdraw the cap from the body of the fusee and reverse it, and place it in position on the fusee, With the igniter against the plug, when it can be ignited either by friction or by percussion.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination in a fusee, of a body, slow-burnin g granular material in said body, a solid plug of slow-burning material cemented in the end of the tube, a cap adapted to be placed over the tube, a head secured to the said cap, and an igniter carried by said head, said igniter being adapted to be ignited by percussion or by friction against the hard plug of slow-burning material, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a fusee consisting of a tube having illuminating material therein, a cap adapted to said tube and having a head, quick-burning material in said head, and an igniter also carried by said head, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a fusee, of a tube having illuminating material therein, a cap adapted to fit over the tube, said cap having an undercut cavity, iguitible material in said cavity, and one or more igniter-s carried by the cap, substantially as described.

4. The combination in a fusee, of a tube, slow-burning granular material Within the tube, a plug of slow-burning material in the end of the tube adapted to confine the granular material therein, a cap adapted to be placed over either end of the tube, a recessed head in said cap, the recess being undercut, quick-burning material Within said recess and one or more match ends secured in the quickburning material of the head so that when the cap With its igniters is placed over the plug end of the tube the fusee can be ignited, substantially as described.

5. A cap for a fusee made of a section of tube, a head secured in the tube, a recess in the head, ignitible material in the' recess, and an igniter mounted in the material, substantially as described.

6. A cap for afusee consisting of a tube, a head Within the tube, a recess in the head, side openings connecting With said recess, quicliburniug material in the recess and side openings and an igniter mounted in the quickburning material, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

IVILTON D. JACKSON.

Vitnesses:

XVILL. A. BARR, .l os. H. KLEIN. 

